“Surely man has nothing but what he strives for and the fruit of his striving will soon be seen,”Al Quran S:26;1

Our future as Muslims and the future of our country America are inextricably linked. The vast and varied condition of our social, economic and political landscape can be transformed for the betterment of all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims. What we do today will give shape to tomorrow’s America. So what are we to do and where do we begin the process of shaping tomorrow’s America.

Let us begin by realizing that any work we begin in the process of national transformation must necessarily begin with our own selves as individuals. Not one of us must remain disengaged, uninvolved, untransformed. The character of the country in which we live is most assuredly determined by the character of us as individuals. It is also essential that we share the same vision, goals and methods for accomplishing the task ahead of us. The statement declaring this as “One nation under God,” is valid from an Islamic standpoint. And as a key to solving the many problems that we face, it is the most excellent point to which we must return. Our vision for America must be shared. We must be full participants in the values, plans and processes that shape the future of America.

By all accounts America is in trouble, our economy is failing, our educational system is in trouble, and our ethics and morals are on trial. Over the last 15 years we’ve been engaged in a war that we can’t win that has cost countless billions of dollars and the lives of thousands of our young men and women, If we have and any vision for the recovery of America’s values and standards, it will only happen by our effort and collaborations with others that share the vision of an America reborn. We are in desperate need of change!

We need a vision for America with limits but not limitations that stifle and prevent growth and progress. However we need limits that prevent us from spiraling into the pit of self-destruction because of unbridled permissiveness, mismanagement of resources and poor judgment in international policy making.

As Americans our perception of the condition of our country should not be formed by how much we are able to amass or enjoy; Even within our own boarders, too many are neglected, abused, marginalized or simply forgotten. It is also equally important that we realize we are not in this world alone; too much of our world is in turmoil, too many people are suffering for us to hold the view that things are good while others suffer so tremendously.

This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them because Christians are my citizens. And by Allah, I hold back anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them.Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.No one is to destroy any house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslim’s house.Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, there are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.The Muslims are to fight for them.If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the last day(i.e. end of the world)

Muslim women and non-Muslim women are all the daughters of Eve (RAA) and Adam (AS).So what makes Muslim women special?

What qualities help to distinguish them from other women? Is it their intellect or features that set them apart from their non-Muslim sisters? What makes Muslim Women or anyone for that matter special?

According to the standards that Islam has set for human excellence, whether the person is Male or female, is the belief in Allah and the abiding presence of fear and respect of His might and Mercy. It is the obedience to His will over our own will or the will of others that distinguishes us.

Allah (T) says in the Quran when speaking to the believers: Surah 3: Ayat: 110

” You are the best group of people coming out of humanity, you command what is good, forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah”

The factors that distinguish Muslims according to this verse are three…

1. They promote the good, 2. They forbid what is wrong; and what is mostImportant; 3. They believe in Allah.

There are non-Muslims who promote the good, who forbid wrong doing but it is belief in Allah that distinguishes Muslims from other people. Actions done solely to please Allah are the

In another verse Allah (T) makes clear to us that it is Taqwa, God consciousness,that makes us the most noble. Surah 49: Ayat 13

“O mankind! We created you from a single pair, of a male and female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (Not that you may despise each other) Verily the most honored of you is the one with the greatest God consciousness”So when our thoughts, our feelings and actions are governed by the inner workings of God consciousness it raises us above those who follow their vain desires or the will of others.

M.E.C.C.A. Academy’s mission is to provide an educational setting that permits and supports its students’ inherent ability to achieve academically, and promotes the growth of sound character and concern for others. Our students’ potential for success, will be strengthened by a cultural and historical referencing; that promotes discipline and standards of excellence in all endeavors.

The purpose of education is to produce people who have in them the motivation to excel in all areas of their humanity.

We believe that education must go beyond the accumulation of knowledge to the development of desirable qualities of mind and character in the individual.

The fundamental values that lead to concern for general social welfare and a self-correcting mind must be taught.

When I first thought of this evening and the theme we are presenting, I thought of my mother. I thought of her struggle to raise me and provide for me a moral, healthy foundation, and how difficult it was for her to do the job alone. I began to think that maybe we should consider womanhood first; when we begin to consider Muslim Women and the role they play in the scheme of our humanity. After all they are women first, and like my mother they represent all women and their struggles. She is why I stand before you today to pay tribute to the position women hold in our lives, whether we are male or female.

However Muslim women have acknowledged the Amana (the Trust) from Allah, and when they abide by it, it distinguishes them from other women. They know that Allah, the Sublime, exists and they have made the decision to commit their lives to His service. If they fulfill this trust, they stand as co-sharers, with Muslim men, of the honor and title, the best of all creation: as Allah, The Exalted has stated: “You are the best nation coming out of humanity, you command what is good, forbid wrong doing and believe in Allah. (Surah, 3; Ayat, 110)

I have witnessed the struggle of Muslim women, beginning with my mother, who took her shahaddah at 75 years of age, may Allah (T) grant her mercy, and I have observed, firsthand, the lives of scores of Muslim women over the last 34 years, that has left an abiding impression in my mind and heart of their sincere faith in Allah (T), and their commitment to serve Him. I’ve also had the privilege and honor to spend the last sixteen years of my life in the company of one of these handmaidens of God, my wife Sufia, and I am compelled to declare that the statement of our Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.): “The whole world is a provision (A Gift) and the best of provisions is a righteous woman”, is true, indeed.

With these thoughts in mind, I ask you to join with me tonight in honoring Muslim Women, and the Struggles and Contributions they continue to offer to improve our lives and make the world we live in a better place.

The first ten days of Dhul-Hajj are the most beloved to Allah. The Prophet (SAAWS) said: that.

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these [first ten] days, (of Dhul-Hijjah). They said: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the path of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihad in the path of Allah Most High, except if a man goes out (for Jihad) with his self and his wealth, then he doesn’t return with anything from that.” (Bukhaari)

WHAT ACTIVITIES IN THESE 10 DAYS WILL BRING THE REWARD OF JANNAH? Obviously, Hajj is one of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days. However for those of us who were not invited to His House this year, there are still many, good deeds that one can do and earn the Pleasure of Allah. Some of these are:

1) Fast any or all nine days prior to the EID and especially fast the 9 th Day ofThe Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

The Prophet (PBUH) used to fast on the ninth day of Dhu’l-Hajj and he (SAAWS) said:

“Fasting the 9th Dhul-hajj is an expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and an expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” (Muslim)

2) Do a LOT of Dhikr and TakbeerThe Prophet (PBUH) said: “There are no days on which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than on these ten days”, so recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah), Takbeer (saying Allahu akbar) and Tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillaah).” (Ahmad -Saheeh)

Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. (Bukhaari)

Takbeer at this time is a Sunnah. So recite it in the masjid, in your home, on the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah. Revive the Sunnah that have been virtually forgotten and earn great rewards for doing so.The Prophet said: “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi- a hasan hadeeth)Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.

3) Standing in Night Prayers: (Tahajud, Qiyam al Layl)Remember the virtues of spending the night in prayer, and its sweetness in Ramadan? Why not revive this beautiful act of worship during these nights as well? Remember, how in the last third of every night, Allah Almighty calls out to us, His servants:

Is there anyone to call on Me, so that I may answer to his prayer? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Why miss this golden opportunity? Seize the chance NOW, and expose yourself to His Divine Generosity and Mercy, ask Him to forgive you and guide you and set things right. He will surely listen.

4) Make Sincere Repentance.One of the most important actions during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin right away because we do not know when we will die and thus become unable to repent, and also because one evil deed leads to another. But what does ‘repentance’ mean? It means that you come back to Allah and give up all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes…. that you regret whatever you did in the past, giving it up immediately and be determined never ever, to return to it, and resolve to adhere firmly to the Truth by doing whatever Allah loves.

“But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful.”[Al-Qasas 28:67]

5) Come back to the Qur’aanIt is time now to dust off your copy of the Qur’aan and return to its refuge. Make it a daily habit, using these 10 days the beginning of a strong and beautiful relationship with it. Read it with meaning, reflect on it, understand it, and then implement it in your daily life. Remember that reading one letter of the Qur’aan earns you ten rewards. In this way, reading Surat Al-Fatihah, which doesn’t take more than two minutes, will give you more than one thousand rewards! This is on ordinary days, so what about these magnificent days! Certainly the reward will be far greater, Insha Allah.

6) Increase ALL the types of good deeds.If we are unable to go to Hajj this year, we should occupy ourselves in the worship of Allah; pray extra prayers (Nafil) recite the Qur’aan. Make Dhikr of Allah, send Salaams on the Prophet, make dua, give charity, honor our parents, uphold ties of kinship, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and add other good deeds and acts of worship during these days.

“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it; And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.” [Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8]

7) Get the reward of Hajj wherever you are:You may be unable to do Hajj this year, and you may feel sad. However, you can get the reward of it right where you are. The Prophet said:

“Whoever prays Fajr Prayer in congregation, and then sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then (after a while) prays two rak’as, he will gain a reward equal to that of making perfect Hajj and Umrah.” [He repeated the word “perfect” thrice.] (At-Tirmidhi)

8. Slaughter an animal and distribute the meat.Ibn Umar said: The Prophet lived in Madeenah for 10 years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” (Ahmad-Saheeh by al-Albaani)

9) Attend Eid prayersBut remember that Eid prayer is a form of worship and we should avoid unislamic behavior (especially) in dress and in etiquette during these times.

10) Thank Allah. One of the best forms of worshipping Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala is to thank Him, deeply, sincerely and continuously. Alhamdulillah, there is much to be gained in these coming days. Hasten to do good deeds and striving hard in worship .